Profiles of Presidential Candidates : 2007

Pratibha Devisingh Patil *

BHAIRON SINGH SHEKHAWAT

Father’s Name

Father's Name:

Date of Birth

Mother's Name:

Place of Birth

Date of Birth:  

Marital Status

Place of Birth:  

Spouse’s Name

Marital Status: 

Children  

Spouse's Name:

Educational Qualification

Children: 

Profession

Profession: 

Permanent Address

Permanent Address: 

Position held:

1962-85

Present Address:

1967-72

Positions Held:

1972-74

1952-1972 

1974-75

1974-1977

1975-76 

1977-2002

1977-78

June 22, 1977 - Feb.15 1980

July 1979-Feb.1980

July 15 1980 - December 30 1989

1982-85

March 4 1990 - Dec. 15 1992

1983-85

December 4 1993 - Dec. 1 1998

June, 1985-90

January 8 1999 - August 18 2002

18 Nov. 1986 to 5 Nov.1988

August 19 2002
onwards 

1986-88  

Accomplishments and other Special Interests :

On becoming the Chief Minister of the State of Rajasthan for the first time in 1977, Shri Shekhawat launched several landmark programmes, with focus on poverty alleviation. The efforts made by the State Government under his leadership in conceiving and successfully implementing poverty alleviation programmes were recognised in India and abroad. Mr. Robert McNamara, the then President of the World Bank during his visit to Rajasthan in September 1979 was so impressed by the results achieved under the Antyodaya Scheme (one of the most acclaimed poverty alleviation programmes with a focus on the poorest of the poor) that he even described Shri Shekhawat as the 'Second Rockefeller'. The Antyodaya approach of which Shri Shekhawat was the chief architect, was eventually redesigned as Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in the entire country.

Shri Shekhawat has always had a vision to develop the State of Rajasthan as an economically prosperous, infrastructurally well-developed, socially forward looking and literate State. He laid special emphasis on improving the literacy level of the State. The issues such as education and upbringing of girl child, protection and promotion of the interests of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs), the minorities, the backward communities and the physically challenged engaged his undivided attention. Empowerment of the poor and the deprived remained his cherished goal in life. Population explosion and its debilitating impact on the development disturbed him the most. He educated the people about the dangers posed by the growth of population and espoused the cause of adopting small family norms. During his tenure as Chief Minister, legislations was enacted prohibiting persons having more than two children from contesting elections to the grassroots democratic institutions and Cooperative Societies. For ensuring the economic well being of the people, Shri Shekhawat announced new investment friendly policies for accelerated development of industries, mines, roads and tourism. He conceptualised and executed the innovative idea of Heritage Hotels and Rural Tourism, which gave a remarkable boost to the tourism in the state of Rajasthan. During his tenure, accelerated economic growth in the State was noticed.

Favourite Pastimes and Recreation :

Reading, interacting with people and extensively touring the State and other parts of the country.

Countries Visited :

Visited a large number of countries i.e., United States of America, United Kingdom., Israel, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, China, Seychelles, Myanmar, South Africa, Vatican City, Romania, Belarus, Armenia, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago.

1991

8 November, 2004

Other Positions held

Social & Cultural Activities 

• Welfare of Women, established a Hostel for working women in Mumbai and Delhi.
• Engineering College at Jalgaon for the benefit of the rural youth.
• Managing Trustee, Shram Sadhana Trust.
• Chief Promoter and Chairperson of a Sugar Factory in Jalgaon District, Maharashtra.
• Established Mahila Vikas Mahamandal, a Government owned Corporation
• Industrial Training School for Blind in Jalgaon and Managing a School for poor children of Vimukta Jamatis & Nomadic Tribes.
• Establishment of Mahila Cooperative Bank at Jalgaon, Maharashtra, while a Minister in the Govt. of Maharasthra, established Govt. owned Corporation Mahila Vikas Mahamandal.
• Development of Rural Economy, Welfare of Women
• Champion in table tennis during college days and won shields in Inter-college tournaments. 

Countries Visited

• Attended International Council of Social Welfare Conference, Nairobi and Puerto Rico.
• Leader, Delegation to Austria on Status of Women.
• Conference Member, A.I.C.C. (1).
• Delegation to Bulgaria, 1985
• Attended Commonwealth Presiding Officers Conference, London, 1988
• Attended World Women conference at Beijing, China.

* Elected as 13th President of India